Myanmar is at a critical and delicate stage of transition with a democratic government having taken office in March 2016 and its first elected civilian president since 1962. Although several drivers of conflict remain, there are currently numerous opportunities for positive economic, social and political development. Key nationally-led processes can create opportunities to bridge the country’s long-running and deeply-dividing fault lines.

Since the start of the transition and the country’s opening in 2011, the people of Myanmar have had access to information in ways which had previously been unimaginable. However, the opportunities and threats this presents for the country’s transition, and the underlying factors which create an enabling environment for violence, are only just beginning to be understood.

In this EPLO Brown Bag Lunch discussion, Ms Isla Glaister will discuss the opportunities in Myanmar to support the nationally-led transition from a local, societal level, with particular focus on the role of information management and the part it can play in bridging ethnic, religious and social divides.

Isla Glaister is Search for Common Ground’s Country Director in Myanmar, focusing on the organisation’s programmes in the areas of culture, reconciliation, social cohesion, community information management, and media for peacebuilding. Ms Glaister has over 10 years’ experience managing offices and programmes in Myanmar, on the Thai-Myanmar border and in the USA supporting and strengthening innovative civil society initiatives for diverse groups in and from Myanmar.

Participants are welcome to bring their own lunch and EPLO will provide tea and coffee.

Please RSVP to Susanne Wander if you would like to participate.